Temperance

Contents:

• General Points

• Temperance Hotels

• Other entries

General Points

The drunkenness of the working classes was a constant source of concern during the 18th/19th century.

In the 1830s, there were 1003 pubs in Halifax and 889 brewers.

Under the Beerhouse Act [1830], almost anyone could open a beerhouse, and beerhouses were open 24 hours a day. This concerned the Puritans and other religious groups, and also those who feared political and religious dissention.

The temperance movement – promoting moderation in, or total abstention from, the use of alcohol – started in Britain around 1826, and temperance societies were set up to rescue those whose lives had been blighted by the demon drink. People – some as young as 6-years' old – were encouraged to sign the pledge, proclaiming their intent to abstain from drink. The movement was particularly strong in Nonconformist areas.

Because beer and ale provided many of the vitamins and carbohydrates in the diet, the temperance movement contribution to malnutrition amongst the working classes.

The United Kingdom Alliance was founded and called for an end to the sale of alcohol, but – realising that a national ban would be unlikely to succeed – the Alliance drew up a Permissive Bill, which allowed ratepayers to vote for a local ban. This resulted in the Licensing Act [1872].

When the British Workman temperance houses failed, houses selling coffee and cocoa were introduced.

In April 1915, George V offered to abstain from alcohol to encourage munitions-workers to do the same, in the belief that alcohol consumption reduced productivity. There was widespread resentment amongst the workers.

In 1847, the Band of Hope Movement was formed. There was also the Young Abstainers' Union intended for upper class children.

The organised temperance propaganda has been sustained by the various temperance leagues, including the North of England League, the orders of Rechabites, the Sons of Temperance, the Sons of the Phoenix, and the Good Templars.

The labours of the British Women's Temperance Association and the Women's Total Abstinence Union have been among the most powerful in the cause of temperance.

Temperance Hotels

By 1900, there were several temperance societies and 8 temperance hotels in Halifax, including

Anderson's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Broad Street Temperance Hotels, Halifax Central Commercial Temperance Hotel, Todmorden Fielden Temperance Hotel & Coffee Tavern, Todmorden Horsfall's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Horton Street Temperance Hotels, Halifax Maude's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Nicholl's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Northgate Temperance Hotel, Halifax Richard's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Stansfield's Temperance Hotel, Todmorden Stephenson's Temperance Hotel

Stott's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Sugden's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Temperance Hotel, Brighouse Temperance Hotel, Brighouse Temperance Hotel, Brighouse Temperance Hotel, Brighouse Temperance Hotel, Halifax Temperance Hotel, Halifax Temperance Hotel, Halifax Temperance Hotel, Luddenden Temperance Hotel, Todmorden Terminus Café & Temperance Hotel, Hebden Bridge Trevelyan Temperance Hotel, Halifax Victoria Temperance Hotel, Halifax Ward's Temperance Hotel, Halifax Waverley Temperance Hotel, Halifax

Other entries

Band of Hope Movement John Bates Beerhouse Brighouse & Rastrick Temperance Brass Band Brighouse & Rastrick Temperance Society Brighouse Temperance Society British Workman House Ambrose Brook Commercial Hotel, Halifax Commercial Travellers' Temperance Association Halifax Ladies' Temperance Society Halifax Temperance Brass & Reed Band Halifax Temperance Society Halifax Total Abstinence Society Hanover Street Chapel Sunday School Temperance Society Harry Castle Hill, Rastrick Samuel Hassall

Edwin Iredale Junction, Ripponden Nazebottom Temperance Prize Band Sobriety Hall, Todmorden Sons of Temperance Spa House, Shibden Temperance Hall, Halifax Joshua Walshaw Thomas Whiteley Wyke Temperance Band Youths' Temperance Society, Todmorden Rechabites

See Salvation Army

Page Ref: QQ_66

search tips advanced search

site search by freefind